Compare towns
Plainfield vs Halifax vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainfield | Halifax | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,314 |
847Lowest |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Plainfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.